Cornard: Thriving disabled football team looking to start youth section

10:05 12 January 2014

Jon Vale
jon.vale@archant.co.uk

The coach of a disabled football team is appealing for younger players as he hopes to expand the club and provide more opportunities for those starting out in the game.

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Cornard Dynamos has one of the most thriving disabled football teams in the county, with its adult team training weekly and competing against other teams in Suffolk FA’s Ability Counts League.

The club’s long-serving coach Will Hunt is now looking for players aged five to 13 to provide a separate youth section.

Mr Hunt, who has coached across Cornard Dynamos’ youth and disabled sections for nearly 10 years, said he has had six young players already express an interest, but needs about 15 to turn up regularly and cover the cost of training.

He added: “It’s exercise, for a start, but it’s good for them in a number of other ways. They meet people, they meet friends and become good friends. With disability football, sometimes I have five boys turn up, sometimes I have 20. We just need to have people coming regularly to make it viable.

“There’s quite a few boys who can’t get into normal teams because of their behaviour. They do need a bit more time and attention and it would be nice to offer that to a younger age group.”

The move is part of the ongoing improvements in Suffolk’s disabled football, spearheaded by Suffolk FA.

Jim Hill, welfare officer at Suffolk FA, said: “We have financially supported five clubs, including Cornard Dynamos, over the last couple of years, and also helped to organise festivals at each club.”

The adult team currently trains every Saturday at the Great Cornard Sports Centre. The prospective youth team needs more players to cover the cost of hiring the indoor sports hall during the winter months.

Current players have a wide range of physical and mental disabilities, including ADHD and Down’s syndrome. The club is currently not able to take players in wheelchairs.

For more information about the club call Mr Hunt on 07968 622285 or email william-hunt1@sky.com.

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